RibbonGuides
Window management on a Mac, explained.
How scrolling window managers work, how to get the PaperWM and niri layout on macOS, and how Ribbon compares with the apps you may already know.
Guides
Scrolling window managers, tiling on macOS, and setups for laptops and ultrawide displays.
- What is a scrolling window manager?A scrolling window manager puts every window on a strip that runs past the screen's edges. How it differs from tiling and floating, and where to get one.
- PaperWM for Mac: the scrolling strip, on macOSPaperWM is a GNOME extension, so it can't run on macOS. Here's how to get the same scrolling, paper-strip window layout on a Mac, natively.
- niri for Mac: scrollable tiling on macOSniri is a Wayland compositor for Linux and won't run on macOS. Here's how to get niri's scrollable-tiling layout on a Mac with a native app.
- The best window managers for Mac, by how they workSnapping, tiling or scrolling? The best Mac window managers, with Rectangle, Magnet, AeroSpace, yabai, Amethyst, Loop and Ribbon compared by how they work.
- A Stage Manager alternative for MacStage Manager piles most of your windows up at the side. Ribbon keeps every window full height on a strip you swipe along. A Stage Manager alternative.
- A window manager for ultrawide monitors on MacOn an ultrawide display, halves are too wide and the middle is the only comfortable spot. How a scrolling window manager uses the width on a Mac.
- How to tile windows on a MacTile windows on macOS with the built-in tiling in Sequoia: edges, the Window menu and keyboard shortcuts. Plus what to use when you want more than halves.
- A window manager made for MacBook screensOn a 13- or 14-inch MacBook, tiling makes windows too small and floating buries them. A scrolling window manager keeps every window usable.
Comparisons
How Ribbon differs from the window managers you may already use.
- Ribbon vs AeroSpaceAeroSpace tiles windows i3-style from a TOML config. Ribbon puts them on a scrolling strip you swipe along. How they differ, and which suits you.
- Ribbon vs yabaiyabai is a scriptable BSP tiling window manager; Ribbon is a scrolling one with a settings window and trackpad gestures. A clear comparison.
- Ribbon vs AmethystAmethyst auto-tiles windows into xmonad-style layouts; Ribbon puts them on a strip that scrolls so nothing shrinks. How they compare on a Mac.
- Ribbon vs Rectangle and MagnetRectangle and Magnet snap one window at a time into halves and thirds. Ribbon keeps every window on a scrolling strip. Which kind of app do you need?